Adjustable casing for rotary drum type fruit and vegetable dicing machines



W. E. URSCHEL'ET AL ADJUSTABLE CASING FOR ROTARY DRUM TYPE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE DIGING MACHINES Filed Dec 17 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 24, 1948.

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Patented .-Feb. 24, 1948 ADTUSTBIIE CASING FOR ROTARY, DRUM TYPE VEGETABLE DICING MACHINES William Unschel 'and Joe Richard Erschei( Valparaiso, 1nd.

Application December 17, 19112, Seria @10.469,2176

(Cl. MG-lGM -7 Claims. l 'This invention relates 'to improvements in'vegetable fruit dining machines.

- The invention is particularly illustrated as per taining'fto improvements in the dieing machine and in our prior Patent .No 2,242,551, @issued `May '29, '15941, although certain fealturesjlo the invention are adaptable to other forms ofthe invention that .disclesed `in our priciaatent.

' Onexif the iabiiieets of tlie present invention is 'to prevent the wastage fo'f cut food at the slicing station et the construction :shown in :our prier 'Spatentfand more particularly to prevent the nrsjectionpf fend cdtwardly lthrough the .space abietjhe periphery of the rotating drum and the irme: 'walls fof the swingahle arcuate sentan located opposite the slicing knife. In uur 'prior 13a-temi there is an opening between the periphery IS of the rotating drum Y22 and the hinged arcuate `portion 162, such as that shown at -64 in Figure 5 of oufiprior patent. This opening, which begins 1at:thi'aflliinge 6.0, widens progressively unt-il at the lowerend of arcuate section the opening .betweenthe periphery #f6 of ythe rotating drum 222 and the arcuate section 62 ris the same `width as the thickness of the slice being cut "by the 'slicing knife. "Due to :the centrifugal force Aof a quantity of mit `or vegetable within the drum,

portions of `the fruit or vegetable are lforced intoy `tlzie between the arcuate section :62 and the 4nerilfaerv 46 of the yrotating drum so that when -thesefportions are carried `-against .the slicing knife holder such portions :are mangled and forced lat- `erallv out of the maclne onto the floor. There;- ore.. one f fthe :ubiects of the present invention is tojelinnate 'such .a waste by providing `an improved arcuate portion whereby the space betwee'nzthe arcuate portion and the periphery off thezrotating drum is at all times maintained to pr-nger clearance regardless of the think.-

ness-Qf the slice.

Yetfanuther object of the present invention is to improve the yconstruction ,of the machine ci the'iforegoing `patent to such .an extent that it voratndice such vegetables as onions, cabbages, an' anyfruits or vegetables which do not make a solid snoeien the nist out. when vegetables ann lfruits 0f this type were sliced by the Jfirst knife c! former machine, the slices tended to fall intojshort segments and these segments packed between the circular strip cutting knives, such as'of said patent, and the inner .and 14 of ine shear plate., and clogged up the machine. These small pieces formed a wedge-shaped mass hetween hub 54 ai the circular knife spindle and the slicing 'knife spindle and `the Asliding knit holder. This 'Wedge-#shaped mass could net spass through :to the shearing edge of the shear llai-sitzt and thus prevented new slices from passi-ng bevond the slicing knife and lthrough fthe rotary strip cutting knives. 'Hence one fo'f 'the objects of the present invention is to provide a new and 'improved shear .plate which is formed with a ledge which materielsv between the rotary :strip cutting knives to a position confronting and -adjface'nt the lower end of the adjustable swinging arcuate portion 2, whereby 4to provide a continuous snide 'wav ier the formed slice, :and 'particularly 1 pieces. This *constrnc'tiorli provides a lpositive guide for the slice and eliminates all clogging 'off the machine.

These and other `olii-eels -oi the invention will apparent .from a perusa of the following speel cation "when taken in connection vwith the accompanyng drawings, wherein:

Figure '1 :is 'a vertical sectional view "of the im 'aro-vement?, as applied to `the machine;

Figure i2 'is a side view of the new arcuate seotion;

Figure 3 a rear view of the arcuate sectien;

Figure -4 iis a 'fragmentary sectional view show ing ktn-e shear plate and the rotary vslicing knives:

Figure 5 is .a side view of the improved shear plate; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in section taken yon the line 6'-'6 of Figure 1.

Referring now @to the drawings in detail, and

particularly to Figure 1 thereof, we 'shall refer only to those parts of our prior Patent 2,242,155?? as are sum1-:lent ft'o illustrate the invention herein claimed.. Suilioe it to sav that the l'd'icing ma- `chime comprises any typ-e of pedestal upon which is mounted a stationary housing '-24, which is belted to the support. This housing, as shown in our prior patent. is provided at one end with a stationary hopper having an open top adapted to receive the substance to be diced, such potatoes, fruits or vegetables, and this hopper has an open 'month adapted to discharge inten parallel lopen register el a rotatable 'drum '232 Amounted within the stationary housing 24. Par

tisular reference is made 5to Figure 2 of our prior patent to snow the manner in which this' ro ktatalcle drum is driven from 'any suitable pri-m mover, threugh the intermediary Aof the shaft 3l. The shaft 32y has spl-ined thereto 4the drum-like member 2,2. This drulelike member in turn is provided with internaiLSZ-nvJar-clly projecting alena ments, there 'being' font shown, which on rota tion of 'the drum zlwiicn the same is filled 'with potatoes or other fruit or vegetable substances are centrifuged about the parallel axis 32. The periphery of the drum as at 4E is open except at the pusher elements 44 where the potatoes or other substances centrifuged within the drum slide continuously and freely about the inner smooth :wa-1l of the stationary Jcasing 24; 'Disposed below astationar-y slicing knife 69 herein'- after referred to, and preferably below the same,

are a plurality of parallel disposed spaced apart?V disc cutting knives 36. Tothis end, ashaft i6 is.

provided with a sleeve 38. `The constructionand 'l operation of this shaft, the sleeve and the disc knives are fully described andsethforth in our prior Patent 2,242,557. One "portion 'ofthe peripheral `wall of the casing 24 is provided with a hinge 59 for the reception of sa. pin-Sil which hinges an arcuate portion iii'whereby Athe free end 64a of this hinge section may be adjustablyA one side of a guideway which in cooperation with a parallel face 12a of a guide surface of the 'stationary guideway hereinafter described forms fanother portion of the guideway for the slice be- .ing formed. I v 3 vv;

The improved arcuate sector 62 is hinged as before described to the peripheral wall of the casing member by the hinge pin 60, and is held in desired adjusted position by the thumb screw 61. Two narrow arcuate members B2b and 62o are pivoted on each side of this arcuate member 62 by means of screws 62g. These narrow arcuate members 62h and 62o are positioned in alignment with the side walls of the rotating drum 22 -as shown more clearly in Figures of the drawings. f

A bracket 62d held to the arcuate section by the screw 62e has overlying projections 62h which vextend upwardly against the sides of these'narrow arcuate sections 62h and 62e, and retain and guide saidarcuate sections in their proper adjusted positions. Adjustment screws 62f'are threaded in the bracket 62d to adjust thesenarrow arcuate sections to their proper position relative to the -periphery ofthe side walls of the rotating drum. To adjust these improved arcuate sections the arcuate section 6 2 is first moved by the thumb screw B1 to obtain a slice of the proper thickness and thereafter when this fitting is secured, the narrow arcuate sections 62a and 62b-are next adjusted by the screw 62j so that the inner curved surfaces of these narrow arcuate sections lie in ,close proximity .to the-innermost peripheries 23 .9ithe side walls ofthe rotating drum 22. lThus means-is provided wherebyythe vegetables and fruits are retained in proper positionwithin the rotating drumand- 4whereby any waste of the product-,through crushing orv escaping from the -`machine -without proper dicing-` is' eliminated. These arcuate-sections'provide means whereby the space `between the arcuate portion and the periphery of the rotating drum is maintained `at all times to propeivrunning clearance ofminimum size, regardless of the thickness of the slice. 3-lleferringparticularly to "Figures i and 5, Vthe haar plaie;l aha.as1ets 89a: through. which the the lower edge of the'arcuate section64 as the slice is formed by the slicing knife 69, thence across the inner edge 14a of the shear plate and .thence .through-.the Arotating disc knives 36. This -slice guiding surface extends closely adjacent the periphery oftherotatable dice cutters I4 which rotate about theiixed axis I3. When vegetables V` siiclias onions or cabbages are sliced, this continuous guideway 'l2 supports the slice at all f times and preventsihe slice from separating into, segments before passing through the disc knives, thus producing more uniformity in the cut vegetables. In addition, the extended guide 12a of the shear platevprevents any 'ofthe `vegetables from wedging between the-shear plate 'and the hub of the disc knives which ,would cause the stoppage of the machine. 5

' It is thought that'the invention and numerous of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing illustrativejdescription and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or 'scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the form herein d escribed being a preferred embodiment for th purpose of illustrating the invention.I

.Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: t Y 'r l. In a machine of the class described, incom bination with a cylindrical casing adapted to vcontainV a quantity of material-torpe' 'sliced,1 a drum adapted to rotate within said casing to centrifuge the material against the inner wall of said casing, a portion of the periphery of said casing having a shiftable'arcuate sector adapted adjustably to shift relatively to the" remaining portion of the inner wall' of said casing, means for so adjusting said sector, means for station'- arily mounting a slicing knife opposite to and facing the outer free end of said arcuately swing.b able portion of said casing whereby'iupon cen.- trifuging said material to slice a section from the material, and means'cooperating withsaid adjustably shiftable. casing sector and adjustiable relatively thereto and the peripheral walls of said 'drum whereby the 'space between said arcuate portion and the periphery ofthe rotating drum is maintained at all times to proper running clearance regardless of -the thickness of the slice said means preventing theV lateral discharge of material from .the opening between the drum and the side walls of the sector.`

2. In a device of the class described," in combination with a cylindrical casing, a drum rotatably mounted to rotate at high speed within said casing, the inner peripheral walls of said casing being smooth, a portion of said walls being formed as an arcuately swingable sector, means for-adjusting the position 'of said sector relative tothe inner walls ofsaid casing'whereby to adjust the opening therebetween, a stationary s lic`- ing knife mounted at said opening in position to form a slice from the' material being centrifuged in said casing by said drum, and means Iadjust'- ahly carried by said arcuately swinfgable sector andshiftable relatively thereto-forv substantially closing the space between the side walls of said arcuately swingable sector and the inner side walls of the drum while maintaining a running clearance therebetween whereby to permit the discharge of the formed slice from said casing While at the same time preventing the discharge of any of said material laterally of said rotating drum and said arcuately swingable sector.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination with a cylindrical casing a drum rotatable at high speed within said casing, said drum having radially extending spaced apart anges on its periphery, and means disposed between said flanges for centrifuging material against the inner smooth wall of said drum, a portion of the peripheral wall of said drum being formed as an arcuately swingable sector adjustable outwardly of the remaining wall of said casing to "provide a slot for the discharge of a slice, a slicing knife mounted in the wall of said casing directly opposite said arcuately swingable sector to cut a slice from the material centrifuged along the inner wall of said casing, and arcuate strips pivotally mounted on said arcuately swingable sector and adjustable toward the peripheral flanges of said drum to substantially close the space therebetween to prevent the discharge of material therebetween while maintaining running clearance between said rotating drum and said arcuately swingable sector.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination with a cylindrical casing having a smooth inner periphery, a drum rotating at high speed within said casing to centrifuge material along the inner smooth wall of said drum, said drum having peripheral flanges and means for centrifuging the substance within the casing and along its inner smooth wall, said smooth wall having an opening and having an arcuately swingable sector forming a portion of said walls,

means for adjusting the sector outwardly to provide a slot of varying width, a knife blade mounted at the mouth of the slot to cut a slice from the commodity being centrifuged whereby to cause the discharge of said slice between the knife and the adjustable sector, and guide means adjustably mounted on and relatively to said sector and adapted to be positioned between the walls of said adjustable sector and the peripheral edges of said drum for preventing the lateral discharge of material from between said sector and said rotating drum while permitting the free discharge of the cut slice.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination with a casing having parallel side walls and an arcuate end wall joining the same to form ing at the opposite end of said opening, means for adjusting the end of said arcuate closure opposite to its hinged end toward and from the end of the slot adjacent the slicing cutter, and means carried by and shiftable relatively to the longitudinal side walls of the closure adjustable independentiy of the adjustment of the closure and itself for substantially closing the space between the longitudinal side edges of the closure and the adjacent longitudinal edges of the opening in the casing irrespective of the adjustment of the closure relatively to the edges of the opening.

6. In a device of the class described, in combination with a casing having a cylindrical peripheral wall, a rotary drum mounted within the casing and adapted to centrifuge an object to be sliced against the inner smooth surface of sald wall, said smooth wall having a longitudinal slotL therein, an arcuate closure corresponding substantially to the cross sectional area of the slot having one end thereof hinged to one end of the opening and means for swingably adjusting the opposite end of said closure toward and from the opposite end of said opening, and a slicing knife disposed at said opposite end of said opening to out a slice from the product being centrifuged, and adjustable arcuate closures pivotally mounted on the inner wall portions of said first mentioned closure and swingably adjustable relatively thereto and to the member rotating within said casing.

7. In a device of the class described, in combination with a casing having a cylindrical peripheral wall, a rotary drum mounted within the casing and adapted to centrifuge an object to be sliced against the inner smooth surface of said wall, said smooth wall having a longitudinal slot therein, an arcuate closure corresponding substantially to the cross sectional area of the slot having one end thereof hinged to one end of the opening and means for swingably adjusting the opposite end of said closure toward and from the opposite end of said opening, and a slicing knife disposed at said opposite end of said opening to cut a slice from the product being centrifuged, and arcuate, adjustable closure means mounted on the underside of said rst mentioned closure and adjustable relatively thereto and relatively to said casing for compelling the sliced material to discharge only at the end of the opening and the end of the arcuate closure in various positions of adjustment of the sector.

WILLIAM E. URSCHEL. JOE RICHARD URSCHEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,195,879 Urschel et al Apr. 2, 1940 1,710,421 Jorgenson Apr. 23, 1929 2,242,557 Urschel et al. May 20, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 523,146 Germany Apr. 20, 1931 

